Tom Cruise, whose real name is Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, was not born into a wealthy family. His father earned his living as an electrical engineer, while his mother worked as a teacher. Cruise has three sisters, and the family was much closer to poverty than wealth. The Cruise family moved around a lot, and Cruise attended a new school almost every year. In addition to living without money, Cruise's father was physically and mentally abusive.
Cruise told Parade, "He was a bully and a coward. He was the kind of person where, if something goes wrong, they kick you. It was a great lesson in my life — how he'd lull you in, make you feel safe, and then, bang!" In addition to the chaotic home life wrought by his father, Cruise had difficulty reading. Cruise was diagnosed with dyslexia when he was seven and didn't appreciate the label. Despite this, he worked hard and overcame his difficult childhood.
Cruise got into drama during elementary school, and he fostered a love of acting that continues to this day. He came close to becoming a Catholic priest, but acting was his true calling. After graduating high school, Cruise moved to New York City to pursue his dream, and at 19, he joined the cast of "Taps," telling People, "I couldn't believe I was making a movie. I'm laying in bed, and I'm so excited and so tense. I remember talking to myself going, 'Just relax.' I didn't want this to ever end."
